Evidence for a pathway of distal screening pigment granules across the basement membrane of the crayfish photoreceptor.

The distal pigment cells of Orconectes limosus contain two layers of large electron lucent vacuoles that are separated by layers of small right-angled platelets adjacent to the crystalline cones. The crystalline cones of the dioptric apparatus of this species have evaginations into the distal pigment cell cytoplasm. In photoreceptors of Orconectes limosus and Procambarus clarkii a dark pigment accumulation site was detected just distal to the basement membrane at the edges of each retina. These pigment accumulations occurred independent of the state of light adaptation. Ultrastructurally the pigment granules at this accumulation site resemble distal screening pigment granules according to their size (up to 1.2 microns in diameter) and fibrous structure. Distal screening pigment granules were also found in tube-like cell processes or extracellularly within and proximal to the retinal basement membrane, indicating pigment transport to and across the basement membrane. Proximal to the basement membrane screening pigment granules were also observed disintegrated to a gravel-like electron dense material in widely branched cells. Evidence was found that an electron dense material, probably resulting from disintegrating screening pigment granules, was incorporated in the integument of the eyestalk. Four hours after injection of gold particles into the eye stalk distal to the retina they were detected inside and proximal to the retinal basement membrane.